GOOD SLEEPING HABITS: Just as Important to your Health as Good Nutrition

Do you dream of getting a good night’s sleep?  If you’re like many Americans, the stresses of work and family life might have you tossing and turning each night and waking up on the wrong side of the bed each morning.

Believe it or not, you can live longer without food than you can without sleep.  As a Speakers Bureau Member of the American Heart Association (AHA), I have lcetured extensively about the need for adequate rest.  Sleep is vitally important, yet it can be terribly elusive to many of us in today’s fast-paced world.

W. C. Fields once joked that the best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep.  But lack of sleep is no joke; not only can it make you feel cranky and tired each day, it can also cause your brain to function improperly, making it impossible to perform even the simplest of everyday tasks.

While there might not be much you can do to prevent the occasional work-related nightmare that wakes you up at 2 a.m., a good mattress and pillow, as well as a few simple lifestyle and nutritional changes, can work wonders when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep.

The American Chiropractic Association and I recommend the following tips to help you get a good night’s sleep:

1.  When choosing a mattress, look for one that is comfortably supportive.  Although the very firm “table board” mattress used to be in vogue, the new
industry trend toward “selective support” is best.  Selective support allows you to press down one area of a mattress, leaving other areas unaffected.

2. If you do have back pain, you might want to firm up the support of your mattress by placing a board under it.

3. Be sure to choose a mattress that is finished on both sides so you can “rotate” it, just like you would your car tires.  Every few months, turn it clockwise, or upside down, so that body indentations are kept to a minimum.

4. When you’re purchasing as mattress, don’t be embarrassed to actually lie down on it at the store to check its fit and comfort.  Don’t just sit on it to test it.

5. Be selective when choosing a pillow.  When lying on your side, your head and neck should remain level with your mid and lower spine.  When lying on your back, your head and neck should remain level with your upper back and spine. 
In other words, your pillow should not be so thick that it causes your head and neck to be propped up or angled sharply away from your body.  I recommend a cervical support type pillow.

6. A regular exercise program can help you sleep more soundly at night.  Exercising in the morning is best, but if you must exercise in the evenings, do so at least two hours before bedtime.  Any later, and your increased heart rate can interfere with your sleep.

7. Try to eat an early dinner.  Eating after 6 p.m. may interfere with sleep as your body works to digest the food you’ve eaten.

Remember: Rest and sleep are one of the 5 factors that make for the best health, along with holistic healthcare, nutrition, exercise and a good mental attitude.